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HONGKONG-CHINA-POLITICS
Half million Hong Kong people vote in pro-democracy primaries
HONG KONG, July 12, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – More than half a million Hong
Kong people voted in primaries held by pro-democracy parties to choose
candidates for upcoming legislative elections, organisers said on
Sunday.
The high turnout for the unofficial poll came despite a government
warning that it could be in breach of a tough new security law imposed
on the city by Beijing.
Tens of thousands queued in the intense summer heat at more than
250 polling stations across the city for the two-day vote which opened
hours after police raided an opinion pollster helping to conduct the
primaries.
After polls closed at 9:00 pm on Sunday, organisers said more than
580,000 people had cast their ballots in the digital voting system.
“Under the cloud of the national security law, nearly 600,000
people came out and voted — this is where we can see the courage of
Hong Kong people,” former legislator and organiser Au Nok-hin said.
The winning candidates are expected to be announced on Monday
evening after all the votes are tallied and be endorsed to run for
seats in the city’s 70-member legislature in September.
On Thursday, constitutional and mainland affairs minister Erick
Tsang warned that those “organising, planning and participating” in
the primary might commit offences of succession, subversion and
colluding with foreign forces under the new security law, according to
interviews given to a select few pro-Beijing newspapers.
Despite the warning, hundreds of thousands flocked to cast their ballots.
“I really love Hong Kong,” Au said. “Hong Kong people have again
created a miracle and again told the world that our pro-democratic
camp can attract so many to vote.”
Beijing imposed the security law on Hong Kong last week targeting
acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and foreign collusion with a
maximum penalty of life imprisonment, in response to huge and often
violent democracy protests that erupted last year.
Similar national security laws are used to crush dissent on the
mainland and police in Hong Kong have already arrested people voicing
certain political views now deemed illegal, such as advocating
independence or greater autonomy.
Police late Friday night raided the office of Public Opinion
Research Institute (PORI), a prominent opinion pollster that was
helping the pro-democracy camp to conduct the primary.
Police claimed they were responding to a report that PORI computers
had been hacked, resulting in an unlawful leak of personal
information.
The raid raised concerns over the primary but PORI president Robert
Chung said the voting system was safe and its operation was legal and
transparent.
BSS/AFP/MRU/2026hrs